Karen Faye Buffington

Karen, 69, of Phoenix, AZ passed away on April 8, 2024. Karen was born August 29, 1954, in Janesville WI. The family later moved to Tempe, AZ where Karen attended schools in the Tempe School District, including McClintock High School.
After graduation high school, Karen began working as an Administrative Assistant for various companies in the Phoenix metropolitan area. During this time, she was married and had two sons, Aaron, and Brian. She was a natural mother and homemaker. When she and her husband separated, Karen was a single mom for six years. In 1991, while working for Giant Industries, she met and married her current husband, Sam Buffington. Karen was able to be a stay-at-home mom until the kids were through high school. She then returned to her career, working for a local media company.
After being older sister to three younger brothers and raising two boys, Karen was blessed with another light in her life, her granddaughter Brynlee. She loved every minute of being with her little girl.
Karen and Sam retired to Sun City West in 2017 where Karen enjoyed painting, sewing, and reading. Karen had instinctive talent as an artist, particularly with watercolor. She was a lover of Labrador retrievers. She appreciated her retirement and the opportunity it provided to spend more time with family.
Karen was predeceased by her younger brother Tim Martin. She is survived by her husband Sam, her parents Richard and Dolores Martin, her brothers Daniel and Stan Martin, sons Aaron and Brian, daughters-in-law Allsion and Brianne, and by “Her Girl” granddaughter Brynlee.
A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of the Valley.